LAHORE - Amid hundreds of mourners, chairman of Nawa-i-Waqt Group of Publications and Nazariya Pakistan Trust, Dr Majid Nizami was laid to rest at Miani Sahib graveyard here on Saturday morning.
Dr Nizami, a chronic heart patient, breathed his last after midnight on Friday (coinciding with blessed night of 27th of Ramazan) after undergoing three weeks’ treatment for pneumonia at a local hospital.
In his 86 years of life, he served journalism for 74 years; for 52 years, he was Editor Nawa-i-Waqt. The news of his death saddened everyone who remembered his career marked by boldness, truthfulness, and unyielding stand before military and civilian dictators.
Dr Raghib Naeemi led Nimaz-e-Janaza of Majid Nizami at Baghe Jinnah which was offered by a large number of people from all walks of life. Quran Khwani for the departed soul will be held at 3pm and dua at 5pm at 43-Mason Road today (Sunday).
Among the prominent who attended the funeral were Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, federal ministers Saad Rafiq and Birjees Tahir, Adviser to CM Khwaja Salman Rafiq, Chief Editor Pakistan Today Arif Nizami, MNA Muhammad Pervez Malik, Khwaja Ahmad Hassan and former president Rafiq Tarar.
The funeral prayer was also offered by Pir Syed Kabir Ali Shah, Allama Ahmad Ali Kasuri, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Liaqat Baloch, Farid Amad Piracha, Prof Rafiq Ahmad, Jamshed Ahmad Tarin, Naeem Chattha, Dr MA Sufi, Pakistan Press Council Chairman Raja Shafqat Abbasi, former Federal Minister Ahmar Bilal Sufi, Justice (r) Khwaja Sharif, Justice (r) Khalilur Rehman Khan, Justice (r) Mian Aftab Furrukh, Justice (r) Munir Ahmad Moghal, Col (r) Amjad Hussain, labour leader Khursheed Ahmad, Azam Badar, Bilal Mahmood Butt, Syed Mujahid Hussain, Shahid Rashid, Shoaib bin Aziz, Altaf Hussan Qurashi, Absar Abdul Ali, Munir Ahmad Khan, Ch Nazir of Akhbar Farosh Union, MPA Javed Latif and Nazim Hussain Shah.
President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, PML-Q President Ch Shujaat Hussain, MQM chief Altaf Hussain, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, JI Ameer Sirajul Haq, JUI-S chief Samiul Haq, Sheikh Ahmad and many other political and religious leaders expressed their heartfelt grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Majid Nizami.
Early Saturday morning CM Shahbaz went to the residence of Mr Nizami and condoled with Rameeza Majid Nizami the death of her father. The CM after offering Namaz-e-Jinaza of Dr Nizami also went to his grave where he laid floral wreath and offered fateha.
Shahbaz Sharif said his family and he was deeply grieved over the death of Majid Nizami who, he added, had the status of an elder of the whole family.
Talking to the media he applauded the services and professional acumen of Dr Nizami to sustain democracy and set up high norms in the field of journalism.
“Nizami Sahib was unyielding before the tyrant ruler,” he said and added Majid Nizami was the standard bearer of Pakistan Ideology and he rendered meritorious services to keep the spirit of Pakistan Movement up among the nation. Nizami Sahib never compromised on his love for Pakistan and Islam and this aspect of his life was eminently reflected in his newspapers.
The deceased was like his mentor and guided him whenever he sought his advice in difficult times, the CM said while terming death of Nizami a national loss.
Punjab Governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar said Majid Nizami was saturated with the spirit of ‘Pakistanism’ and any loss to the country was intolerable for him. He said the deceased was a farsighted journalist who devoted his life to the service of country and the nation. The void created by his death would hardly be filled, he added.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz paying tribute to Majid Nizami said the deceased was an upright person who never compromised on principles no matter how much loss he had to bear. He said whatever Nawa-i-Waqt Group published under the editorship of Dr Nizami commanded authenticity at the public level. The deceased was critical of everything that was harmful to the country. He was embodiment of ‘Pakistanism’ and love for Islam, he added.